To meet booming demand around the globe while adapting to specific considerations in the different regions in which it operates, Alstom has established a localised organisation designed to promote commercial and industrial proximity to customers and enhance operational efficiency.

Promoting proximity to strengthen long-term partnerships

With its worldwide geographic coverage, Alstom is well positioned to serve its 200 customers who are, themselves, expanding globally.

By ensuring a presence as close as possible to its customers, Alstom can better understand their needs and offer tailored solutions while seizing growth opportunities in high-potential markets.

The company has developed standardised processes, sharing know-how across its different production platforms throughout the world and generating economies of scale. This enables Alstom to capture the potential of fast growing global markets, while reducing the effect of local production cycles.

A localised organisation

Alstom’s bid to strike a balance between global reach and local presence is reflected in its organisation, which comprises six key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, France, Middle East & Africa and Asia Pacific.

Each region is commercially and operationally independent, and has its own local management structure to better understand market needs. All six regions cover four activities: trains, services, systems and signalling.

Alstom’s organisation also includes a head office, which handles all key central functions (global strategy, innovation, joint processes, etc.).

Strategic partnerships

To further strengthen its proximity with its customers, Alstom has built a worldwide, solid and effective network of partnerships in key locations. These alliances enable Alstom to meet its customers’ rising demand for local solutions.

Russia and Kazakhstan

Alstom formed one of its flagship partnerships in 2010, with the Russian firm Transmashholding (TMH). Alstom and TMH have been working on a project for the delivery of 400 EP20 passenger locomotives and the 2ES5 freight locomotives, from Alstom's Prima locomotive platform, both designed by their joint venture TRtrans. Since December 2015, Alstom and TMH’s intensified their collaboration, as Alstom's stake in TMH reached 33%.

Alstom entered the Kazakhstan’s railway market in June 2010 together with its Russian partner Transmashholding (TMH), by laying the first stone of the EKZ facility in order to build locomotives for the Kazakh network. The joint company was held by Alstom (25%), TMH (25%) and Kazakh Railways (50%). Alstom, EKZ, TMH and KTZ had signed a contract for the supply of 200 Prima T8 (KZ8A) and 95 Prima M4 (KZ4A) locomotives. The EKZ plant was inaugurated in 2012. The freight locomotives are now fully assembled at EKZ, the full assembly of passenger locos will start in the beginning of 2018. In December 2017, Alstom became majority shareholder in EKZ.

South Africa

In 2013, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Gibela, a company jointly held by Alstom and two South African partners - New Africa Rail and Ubumbano Rail - signed a contract as part of the programme to modernise PRASA’s fleet of suburban trains.

Gibela, which employs over 400 people, will supply a total of 600 trains and provide technical support and spare parts over an 18-year period.

France

The 250 employees at NTL play a critical role in the development of this unique tram technology. Translohr, a valuable tool for reclaiming space in urban areas, represents the latest generation of guided electric transport systems.

Long-term customer relationships

Alstom aims at sustaining a continuous relationship with its customers through all stages of their buying cycle – from business development to after-sales. For example:

a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool –called “wall.C” – is deployed across the Sales, Strategy and Marketing teams, to support account management and customer satisfaction monitoring.

the services customer portal strengthens the proximity Alstom develops with its customers by making their daily exchanges with Alstom as smooth as possible. Ordering spare parts, training offers and Alstom’s technical expertise are directly available to them through this portal.

Customer Satisfaction Surveys are completed systematically at working level for all projects in execution. Results are analysed and, as necessary, project-specific action plans are defined and shared with customers.

“Customer Clubs” are being further developed. Following a first edition of the “Metro Club” in 2013, the “Coradia Nordic Club” and “Pendolino Club” were launched. They are worldwide forums for customers to share their professional know-how and views of their business challenges with their peers and with Alstom.

A broad range of training courses is run by Alstom as part of equipment supply contracts. In July 2013, its “Knowledge Centre”, was inaugurated on a site to the north of Paris. Demand for the training of train drivers, technicians and train fleet & rail infrastructure maintainers is booming in nations that are investing for the first time in public transport. Alstom is responding with a dedicated team which tailors and delivers rail transport training programmes to meet this specific need.

Nomad Digital

On 5th January 2017, Nomad Digital became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alstom.

Nomad Digital, founded in 2002 in the United Kingdom, is a world leading provider of passenger and fleet connectivity solutions to the railway industry. Nomad Digital’s solutions include passenger WiFi, innovative Passenger Information Systems and on-board passenger portals, entertainment and media platforms. In addition, Nomad Digital also provides tele maintenance solutions, including Remote Online Condition Monitoring, Reliability Centred Maintenance, Driver Assist and Power Train products. Nomad Digital’s solutions and teams fully leverage the integration and convergence of both Rail and Information & Communications Technologies (ICT) and skills. Alstom and Nomad share a vision to make the Digital Train a reality, and Alstom’s heritage and pedigree in train manufacturing enables Nomad to accelerate the delivery of that vision.

Nomad Digital has already established strong relationships with train operating companies, such as ÖBB, Amtrak, Via Rail, Eurostar, GWR, NS, NSB, PKP, Queensland Rail, and Virgin Trains which today represent the most significant part of its business.

Nomad Digital has quickly evolved from a pioneer to a leader in its segment, and serves today more than 80 major rail operating companies in more than 40 countries across the world.

Nomad Digital employs around 230 people, and is headquartered in Newcastle, UK, with 13 offices worldwide, principally in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Canada, Australia and the United States.